Ok, sorry for the late update, once again. This chapter wasn't supposed to be like this, but it got delayed by school, and my softball training. Anyway, this is an important Authors note, it will help you understand this chapter.

This chapter takes place after Louisa runs into the Deadheads. Basically, pretend chapter ten never happened, and you get this. This chapter was also supposed to contain her going into the maze with Minho, but it is literally one in the morning. I'm exhausted.


The tree bark is rough under my hands. I have no clue why I am always running into the deadheads when I need to think. Maybe I appreciate the silence. All I know, is that Reed has just ruined my life. I could've dealt with the whole ' I can't remember anything and I'm trapped inside a giant maze ' thing without Reed constantly breathing down my neck.

I refuse to cry. Just because Reed kissed me in front of Newt, the guy I may or may not like, doesn't give me an excuse to cry. I need to toughen up. I need to hurt Reed, the same way he has hurt me.

" Lo? Lo? I know you're in here. Come down so I can explain. " Reed. Crap. I have to climb higher. You would think this would hurt my shoulder, surprisingly, my shoulder feels fine. It healed really fast.

The branches are getting thinner, and if I put too much weight on them, they will break. I move my hand up to grab the next branch, when I hear Reed at the base of the tree.

" Louisa, don't make me go up there. " No, No No, he can't find me. I don't want him to. I need to think, about Newt. No, I need to get away, from everyone. If I become a Runner, that will happen. I will run the maze from the moment it opens, to the second it closes. I can't get close to anyone. I feel my heart squeeze at the thought. Dealing with this myself won't be easy. But I have to in order to keep my sanity. A hand closes around my ankle, and pulls me down.

" Running away won't help you. It will only make it worse. " Reed whispers in my ear. He climbs back down the tree, pulling me with him. He throws me at the base of the tree, and the impact makes me groan. That's going to bruise. He walks forward, and kicks my side. I fall over, coughing. " I thought I told you to stay away from Newt. " Reed says while sitting me up. I feel like a rag doll, unable to move. I'm so useless. " What happened in the Gardens? " Reed asks me, fire in his eyes. One wrong answer and I could die.

" Nothing happened. " I answer. I lie too much.

" It didn't look like nothing. " Reed says grabbing my shoulders and slamming me into the tree. " I thought you said you liked me. I believed you. " Reed says, sounding a little hurt. Good. He deserves it.

" I lied. " I spit out. " You are the worse human being in the world. You force me to do things that I don't want to. Screw. You. " I have no clue where that came from, but it was a bad idea to say it. Reed is seething. If looks could kill, I'd be dead three times over.

" You stay away from Newt, or he won't live to see the next day. " Reed finishes before leaving. I bring my knees to my chest, and rest my head on them. I need a plan. If I find a way out of the maze, maybe Reed will find some other girl to torture. No, that poor girl would feel the same way I am right now. I need to rid the world of Reed. He needs to be demolished, eliminated, banished. Something. Reed needs to be put in his place, or removed. For now, I should just listen to him, and secretly come up with a plan. A plan that will help me, and the future of the Glade.

….

I slept at the base of the tree last night, much like I did my first night in the Glade. Reed's words play through my head. You stay away from Newt, or he won't live to see the next day. I don't know if it was an empty threat, or if he is actually capable of hurting, possibly even killing Newt. If Reed does anything to Newt, I won't be able to live with myself.

I get up, and realize that I have to try to work with the Baggers today. I told Alby that I couldn't work with them, but he insisted on me trying it out. The keeper of the baggers, Nick, would probably love to have me in his little group. So he can watch me. Freaking perv. When I finally get to the maze walls, a red head greets me.

" Hi Louisa! I am Charley, one of the Baggers. Nick should be here soon, so just wait here. " Charley says before walking off. He seems nice. He also seems a bit depressed. I wonder if I can be his friend. No! You can't be anyone's friend. I remind myself. The plan Louisa, remember the plan. Great. I'm going crazy. Talking to myself. I plop down in the grass, and look out into the maze. I wonder what happened to that kid Josh, that had gotten stung. I'll have to ask someone.

" So she-bean, are you going to run the maze with me today? " Minho asks, coming to a stop in front of me.

" No, I'm with the Baggers today. " Short and simple. Keep all conversations to a minimum.

" Ok, I'll let you sit on your cute little butt today, but tomorrow, you're running the maze with me. " I feel myself get excited. This is exactly what I wanted. I want to run the maze. I nod, and Minho breaks off into a sprint, leaving the glade.

" Hi Louisa. It's so good to see you again. " I hear someone say from behind me. It has to be Nick. He walks around in front of me, and extends his hand. " Let me help you up. " I hesitantly take it, and he pulls me up. Unluckily for me, he pulls to hard, causing me to crash into him, and we fall to the ground.

" Good going shuck-face. " I say before I pick myself up. I brush the dirt off of me. " What are we doing today? " I ask him. I really just want to know so I can get it over with.

" We are burying a dead body. " I can feel my face pale, and I take off running in the opposite direction. " Josh wouldn't appreciate this! " Nick yells after me. So that's what happened to the poor kid. He freaking died. The Changing killed him. A shiver goes down my spine while I'm running. Next think I know, I'm in the kitchens.

" Hey Lo! Want to help me cook dinner? " Frypan asks me as soon as I get near him. I get confused, dinner is a long time away.

" Yea. Should be fun. " I say before following him around. I notice all of the things around me. Knives, measuring cups, pans, pots, a strainer, and several other things I don't recognize. There is a wooden Island in the middle of the room, and I can see bins lined up against the walls. They are full of vegetables. I immediately grab an onion, and an orange, red, and green pepper. I walk over to the fridge, and get some balsamic vinegar. I grab some rosemary, pepper, and salt, and grab a pan. I put it on the stove, but don't turn the heat on. Instead, I dice the onion, and cut the peppers into strips. I put it on the island, leaving it there for later.

I get some chicken breasts, and season them with the salt and pepper. I turn the stove on, and coat the chicken in a little balsamic vinegar. Rosemary is put into the pan, so it can cook into the chicken. I put the chicken in the pan, and let it cook. There is a lot of chicken, but, there is also a lot of people. I cook about forty chicken breasts, and it takes most of the day. After I finish, I ask frypan if he has any white rice. He says no, so I am forced to cook the onion and peppers with corn. CORN. It sounds disgusting. By the time I am finished cooking, I am exhausted, and hungry.

" Well done she-bean. Didn't know you had it in ya! " Frypan congratulates me, applauding my lame excuse for Rosemary Chicken. I mumble a thanks, and leave the kitchen. Frypan had served over half of the glade my chicken, and they were eating it. I suppose it couldn't be that bad, so I grab a plate, and sit down in front of Newt. He seems completely engrossed in his food, as if he's trying to ignore me. I knew this would happen. I knew he would ignore me. And it's all Reed's fault.

I eat some of my chicken, pleased with how it tasted. The corn looks weird, but tasted ok I guess. I'm not a food critic. I'm just about to take my next bite when the king of Hell decides to sit next to me. I automatically send Newt a look of help, and he seems to get it. Stupid! You aren't even supposed to be near him. Now you are sending him looks of help! I scold myself. Of course I had to sit here, and of course Reed was going to sit next to me. I don't know what I was thinking.

" If I sit here, will you insult my hair? " Minho asks me.

" I'll try not to. " I say, stifling a giggle. Gosh, that sounded so girly, stop it. Minho rolls his eyes, and sits next to Newt.

" You better not. I have control over whether or not you can become a Runner. " Minho tells me. Right, I should probably be nice to him. I'm just about to say something when Reed decides to open his mouth and speak.

" Don't worry, she's not going to be a Runner. " I look over at him, ready to send a thousand insults his way, only to have him send me a glare that could melt ice. I look back down at my food, wanting to eat it. I never eat, but I'm never hungry anymore. I push it away,

" Why not? " Newt asks. I'm surprised he talked, and it was for me! Sort of.

"I can't stand the thought of her going into the maze, all by herself. " Reed says, giving me a side hug. He's playing the protective boyfriend card. I'm pretty sure I am supposed to feel flattered, and thank him, all I can do is get up and leave, not able to stand the conversation anymore. I don't want to go to the deadheads, that's getting too predictable. I want to be alone, and there is only one place I can do that. Sadly, it's tainted with a bad memory. The first time Reed had ever kissed me. I'm going to the bathrooms. Mainly so I can be alone, but I also have to pee.


This chapter overlaps with chapter ten! Ok, just saying that to get it out there so you aren't confused or whatever. Oh, and Nick is that creepy dude who was checking her out in the first or second chapter. Maybe third.

If you can't tell, this is a slow burning story, so please bare with me. I think it's going to get a little more intense next chapter, maybe in chapter thirteen. It really just depends. On me. And Lo, and Newt.

I have decided, that on every fifth chapter, I will explain Newt's feelings. It will basically be a chapter written in his P.O.V. Should be fun and challenging.

I've rambled for long enough. I hope you have enjoyed this chapter! I also hope that you are having a nice life, unlike Louisa. See you next time! I have no idea when that will be by the way, preferably thursday? I might try to get one up tomorrow. I'm just really not sure. I've been reading a lot lately too. Right now, I'm reading City of Glass. Book three in The Mortal Instruments Series. It's really good so far. Crap, I'm rambling again. Bye!